Men's Soccer Signs Four Prep Standouts To National Letters Of Intent

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -
The UC Santa Barbara men's soccer program has signed four high school standouts to National Letters of Intent, head coach Tim Vom Steeg announced today.

The four signees are Kevin Maffris, a defender from Webb School in Upland, Darren Doi, a midfielder from Laguna Hills High School, Ashkahn Moayedi, a midfielder-forward from Woodbridge High School in Irvine and Erik Stolhandske, a goalkeeper from Robert E. Lee High School in San Antonio, TX.

Here is a rundown of each of the four players:

Kevin Maffris - 5-foot-11 - Defender - Webb School - Upland, CA
Four year varsity starter at Webb School...All-league first team for three straight seasons...Member of the California Youth Soccer Association-South Olympic Development Team...Member of the U.S. Youth Soccer Association Region IV Travel Team...Plays for for the Alta Loma Arsenal Futbol Club...1997 Varsity CIF Southern Section Track and Field Academic Champion...Also recruited by UCLA, Duke, Penn State and Boston College."Kevin was the top player on our list of recruits last year. He is considered one of the best defenders in the country and he possesses the skills of a midfielder and the speed of a forward." - Tim Vom Steeg

Darren Doi - 5-foot-7 - Midfielder - Laguna Hills HS - Laguna Hills, CA
First-team all-league and third team All-CIF in 1999...Produced 17 goals and 12 assists as a senior at Laguna Hills HS...Member of the 1999 California Youth Soccer Association-South Olympic Development Under-17 Team...His ODP team is coached by former U.S. National Team coach Steve Sampson and will play in Europe this summer...Also recruited by Cal, the University of San Diego and SMU."Darren is an excellent midfielder. His attacking abilities on the outside address our greatest weakness form last year's team." - Tim Vom Steeg

Ashkahn Moayedi - 5-foot-11 - MF-Forward - Woodbridge High School - Irvine, CA
Helped to guide Woodbridge to the 1999 CIF Division I Championship and a 25-1-2 record by scoring 12 goals and 16 assists...Named All-Orange County...Named All-Sea View League...Member California Youth Soccer Association-South Olympic Development State Scout Team...Plays for West Coast Futbol Club Under-19...Also recruited by Harvard, Vanderbilt, Denver and Cal State Northridge."Osh has the ability to attack as either a midfielder or a forward. He was the biggest surprise at this year's College Coaches Showcase scoring seven goals and getting three assists in the tournament. His ability to take onver the soccer game made him a very sought after player." - Tim Vom Steeg

Erik Stolhandske - 6-foot-2 - Goalkeeper - Robert E. Lee High School - San Antonio, TX
First-team All-District in 1999...Member of the Texas Olympic Development State Pool from 1997-1999...Demonstrator for the Star Galkeeper Academy in Austin and Santa Barbara...Plays club for the Town and Country Warriors Under-18 Team...Also recruited by Clemson and William and Mary."Erik was the best young goalkeeper we saw last year. He is a pure athlete with very good hands and excellent quickness. He is only beginning to reach his potential." - Tim Vom Steeg

Vom Steeg also believes that this year's recruiting class is an outstanding group of students as well as being an outstanding group of soccer players. He believes that last year's turnaround, the biggest in the NCAA (from 2-17-1 to 13-7-0) was instrumental in attracting such an outstanding recruiting class.